How to effectively clean watches of all prices - From the least expensive to the most expensive ones

Whenever we start thinking about cleaning a watch, we often think of March 2020, when the news cycled about the wake of COVID-19 in the world. The pandemic was a time when everybody realized the importance of hygiene precautions to be stepped up in everyday life. Simply put, wearing clean watches is as essential as wearing clean clothes. 

Cleaning a watch has become an utmost necessity especially after Covid- when there was no doubt on whether the watch with quartz movement be serviced or not. But do you know how to clean watches of all price ranges? You may think that a simple piece of sanitized cloth would do a job. We are sorry, but you are wrong here. 

Effective cleaning requires much more than that. But the good news is, keeping your watch clean is pretty straightforward. 

This article will guide you through simple yet effective step-by-step tips on how to clean watches in your home. But, before you understand the nitty-gritty about watch cleaning, you must be aware of the watch features you are using. 

Especially whether or not a watch is water resistant. If you are a Tsar Bomba customer, you don't have to worry about this particular factor, as the watches we supply are entirely water-resistant. 

What is a perfect watch cleaning solution? 

I hope you went through all the features that your wristwatch holds. Now, it's time to dive deep into how to clean watches of all types and all price ranges. 

A proper watch cleaning kit is required to perform a perfect watch cleaning solution. 

A watch cleaning kit involves: 

• Specific watch brush. Don't have it? Pick a soft-bristled toothbrush instead.
• Sanitary wipes (A pack of simple eco-friendly and anti-bacterial wipes)
• Toothpicks 
• A clean microfiber cloth

Have you assembled all the necessary items? Because it's now time to learn how to make use of each and every item you put in your watch cleaning kit. 

Step 1. Watch Inspection:

The very first step in the involvement of watch cleaning is its inspection. It involves deep looking at the condition of the watch through a simple magnifying glass. You must pay detailed attention to the state of a watch's moving parts.

Furthermore, look if the edge of the crystal (a transparent glass material that covers the face of the watch) does not have any visible area which is not firmly connected to the case. In case it has, your watch needs to be professionally serviced. 

However, you need to perform an additional step if you have traditional non-resistant watches. It involves looking at the damage that may allow for moisture ingress. 

But we suggest you switch to water resistant watches as they are easy to clean and have numerous other benefits. 

Also Read: 10 maintenance tips for your water resistant watches 

Step 2: Clean a watch band/strap: 

How to clean a watch band? Cleaning a watch band is quite easy. Simply remove the watch strap from the watch and use some mild detergent to get a clean watch band.

If the watch strap is detachable, removing it would not be a problem. If it's a non-detachable strap, use the spring bar tool to remove the same(if possible). 

The process of watch strap removal will take you to the dirtiest parts of your watch, i.e., the bracelet's end link and the lugs' inner side. Strap removal makes it easy for the strap and the watch to go through an easier cleaning process. 

Step 3: Wipe the Watch:

Now, it's time to wipe and clean your watch. You must regularly use the wipes to clean your face or any body part.

Just like that, pick one of the wipes and carefully wipe every facet, engraving, nook, and edge of the watch. This step would not take more than a minute or two. 

Step 4: Use a toothpick to clean the remaining areas: 

Let's now jump into the next step to have clean watches. If you are left with some sticky grime even after cleaning the watch with wipes, then don't worry. Here's a solution to it; a toothpick. 

Take a toothpick with its brittle tip-off. Then wrap the toothpick in the wipe and gently rub the harder edge of the toothpick into the dirty areas, ensuring that the toothpick will not tear through the wipe. If the cleaning disrupts the horological detritus, use a soft-bristle brush and gently rub it on the affected area.

Note: A toothpick may scratch the precious metal cases, so it's best to be as thorough as possible with the wipe.

Step 5: A microfiber finish: 

The last step for having clean watches is giving a microfiber finish. To do so, take a soft and clean microfiber that will absorb excess moisture present on the Watch. Then wrap the cotton material cloth around the finger and use the fingernail to ensure the cloth gets into all those spots that are tough to reach, such as the crystal edge, the bezel edge, and the inner lugs and case back seam. You now have a very clean watch.

For all those who removed the watch strap/bracelet, the above steps are largely similar to cleaning a bracelet (But you can start by washing the bracelet in warm soapy water).

Further, brush it clean with the toothbrush, then lay it in the paper towel fold. Also, don't forget to pull your spring bars while paying close attention to the end links and the clasp – with exceptional care for extra bits like wetsuit extensions. 

Note: Bracelets that are complicated in the area near the clasp are cleaned as per the manufacturer’s directions. After cleaning the watch, dry it with a microfinish cloth.

Now that you've completed this deep cleaning process, you have a clean and fresh wristwatch. 

Closure: 

Summing up our thoughts by saying that the majority of watches, no matter what price range they belong to, require the same cleaning process. Also, it is not that tough to clean watches at home. 

To begin with watch cleaning, one needs to have an appropriate watch-cleaning kit. The watch cleaning kit has a specific watch brush, eco-friendly and anti-bacterial wipes, toothpicks, and a clean microfiber cloth, which makes watch cleaning an easy process at home.